• Blues play 4-4-2 with two sitting midfield players (team I'm coaching),
• reds play 4-4-2.
• Ask the reds to be direct as possible, get them to play through us.
• Both teams if the counter is on go for it. The art of counter attacking as a team is to try and exploit the opposition as quickly as possible when you gain possession of the ball. This is because the opposition will be on the back foot, less comanised and therefore more vulnerable. Start with the keeper then coach the rest of the team.
  

Reds have a corner. Set the defence up, decide who goes forward and how many. Do you play zonal marking or man for man at corners? Iits your decision- which system works best for the counter attack? What system do you prefer to defend corners with? will it work with counter attack play?.

Diagram 1

Responsibilities of players

The Goalkeeper

The keeper catches the ball from the corner.

• How far can your keeper throw the ball? How accurate is he?
• How far can he kick the ball? How accurate is he?
• Has he good vision and does he make correct decisions?
• If you haven't already stopped play and worked on his throws and kicks from the goal line and the edge of the area. Now we know how far and how accurate he is we can work on movement and players offering support.
• How do your forwards like to receive the ball? To feet, chest or to run onto? Can your keeper deliver these passes?

• Observation of defenders and attackers. Knowledge of players
• Timing of distribution. Early when first gaining possession or running to the edge of the area for more distance and accuracy.
• Supporting runs. Pre arranged runs. In diagram 1
  Player 1. As soon as the corner is taken he sprints forward. Player 4 would therefore pull off to the other side of the pitch giving player 1 space to run into.
  Players 2 or 3. Generally players are drawn to the ball so the space occurs on the opposite side of the pitch. Can you work it so one of these players sprint as soon as the keeper has safe possession. Assess the flight of the ball, can you go earlier if your not marking ? Player 4 might run as above to give them space to run into.
• Decision of Keeper. Is someone in a better position. First look if furthest forward, then midfield and then short.
• Technique to throw or kick. Javelin or over arm lob. Volley or half volley.
• Decision of feet or space. To space to keep momentum, to feet to the furthest forward, can we run off him.
• Quality of distribution. Weight, timing, accuracy and disguise.
• Height of distribution. Do we need to clear defenders, certain kicking techniques e.g. Bartez give a long distance with a low kick.
• Support. In advance of the ball, behind the ball and around the ball.
• Goalkeeper supporting the defence. Look at shape of defence and the keepers position as play moves forward.